The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter is a dramatic story. The plot progresses through a series of theatrical set pieces, such as the three incidents on the scaffold, Hester Prynne’s confrontation with the Governor and her liaison with Mr Dimmesdale in the forest glade. The author’s vivid, descriptive writing creates strong images of his protagonists in the minds of his readers, and this powerful visual impact heightens the sense of conflict within, and between the characters.